COMMA – The Community Aggregates Fund

COMMA – The Community Aggregates Fund

The COMMA fund is now closed for applications.

We would like to thank everyone who has applied to the COMMA fund. All applicants have now been notified of the outcome of their application and a list of the successful projects is included in the Interim Report.

Click here to view the interim report

Please email enquiries to comma@acre.org.uk

Starting in April 2007 the Government, through Defra, commissioned ACRE to deliver a one year grants fund to run until the end of March 2008. Finances were drawn from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund. Known as The COMMA fund, this new grants programme focused on supporting community projects in settlements affected by quarrying.

The fund comprising of £500,000 attracted 207 applicants. In total the applicants requested in excess of £2.8 million. Applications were from a vast range of projects representing the diversity of ideas and needs in rural communities across England.

The 29 final grant awards were made for a variety of purposes as shown:

COMMA pie-chart

Goatacre Village Hall received £20,000 for an environmental technology project. They have installed an environmentally-effective non-oil/fossil fuel warm air central heating and solar-heated warm water.

Medway Valley Countryside Partnership received £6,400 to produce information material and an on-line resource on the heritage and wildlife of the River Medway read more

Taste for Adventure Centre received £19,300 for the further development of their centre and its facilities. The grant has allowed them to build a survival eco area, provide kayaks for less able people, hot meals, trips and transportation for the ‘over 60’s’ groups and create pathways which allow easier access for wheelchair users and the elderly.

Great Barton Village received £5,000 for the refurbishment of their main hall. For the full story visit their website

A full list of the final awards is contained in the interim report.

Future of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

There is currently a Defra consultation on the future priorities for and delivery of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund – April 2008 to March 2011. The closing date for responses is 1 April 2008. Visit the Defra website for further information.